Headlines

Report: Variety, Value Fuels Optimism for U.S. Cannabis Bevs

Although growth has been slower than some have predicted, the U.S. cannabis beverage market is gathering steam as consumer trial rates and basket penetration increase, according to a recent study by market research group Headset.

Re-Phocus: Brand Debuts New Look Amid Nationwide Expansion

Seeking “a little more pop on the shelf,” caffeinated sparkling water brand Clear/Cut Phocus has introduced refreshed packaging, which is rolling out now amid a nationwide expansion for the Kentucky-based brand. The new cans feature a cleaner graphic design with more saturated coloring and the added slogan “Naturally Energizing Sparkling Water.”

Innovation Foods to Build $45M Facility for Oatly Production

As Oatly scales its U.S. operations, Millville, New Jersey-based Innovation Foods announced this month that it is building a new $45 million processing and packaging facility to produce plant-based aseptic and extended shelf life beverages for the Swedish oatmilk maker.

Rowdy Mermaid Launches Mushroom-Based Adaptonic Line

Rowdy Mermaid is extending its portfolio of functional beverages beyond kombucha with its new Adaptonic line of sparkling immunity beverages. The tonics, launching this month, are made with fruit, botanical herbs and Reishi mushrooms.

PATH Building Bridge Beyond “Water” With New Identity, Investors

Looking to take the company to the next stage in its mission to help the environment through sustainable packaging, bottled water maker Pathwater has rebranded as PATH, a move that comes as the company completes a celebrity-backed funding round and rapidly scales its retail footprint.

Ugly Finds Spark in Soda Ahead of Retail Push

Ugly announced today that the four most-popular flavors from the past year of special releases — Cherry Cola, Dr. Ugly, Orange Soda and Fruit Punch — will be the tip of the spear for a deeper push into brick-and-mortar retail, highlighted by its launch in over 6,400 CVS stores this May.

Taste Radio: Twist, Shake, Disrupt. How DRNXMYTH Is Redefining A Category.

Brandon Schwartz & Lawrence Cisneros, the co-founders of innovative ready-to-pour cocktail brand DRNXMYTH, spoke about how they navigated a complex web of regulation, supplier partnerships and packaging technology to achieve their vision for the products and how they surrounded themselves with investors that understood the impact of technology within an emerging category.

Health-Ade Launches Line of Kombucha-Based Mixers

Health-Ade Kombucha is further expanding its platform with Health-Ade Mixers, a new line of kombucha-based cocktail bases launching this spring. The new line, which is rolling out as a Whole Foods Market exclusive, is made with kombucha and additional ingredients, including simple syrup, bitters and juice, to create a unique style of cocktail mixer.

Chobani, PepsiCo Partner on Distribution Pilot Test in Northeast

Chobani has teamed with PepsiCo to further its ambitions in the refrigerated space through a pilot distribution program that will take the yogurt maker’s products into convenience retailers, colleges and universities across the Northeast starting this month.

PepsiCo Expands Hilo as The Hive Speeds Up Innovation

The company has spent the last two years retooling The Hive, its latest emerging brands division. Now Hilo, the first brand to emerge from the incubator, is ready to spread its wings, moving into brick and mortar retail and, this week, launching new products.